Vermont businesses team with state to save Vermonters money and cut carbon Vermont’s Statehouse is first in the nation to have clean backup power stored in batteries  —using a GMP program to help lower costs for all Vermonters. State officials, and leaders from Northern Reliability, Dynapower, Virtual Peaker and Green Mountain Power (GMP) were joined…

By Emma Cotton and Katie Jickling/VTDigger Ski patrols count as health care workers. The state is currently distributing the Covid-19 vaccine to “health care workers likely to be exposed/treat Covid-19 patients” and “long-term care facility residents and staff who have patient contact,” as part of group 1a, according to state guidelines. But who qualifies under that definition has evolved,…

By Rep. Jim Harrison On Jan. 6, the Vermont Legislature convened for the start of the 2021-22 biennium. Normally the first week has its share of tradition, as well as some pomp and circumstance, with the swearing in of all 180 lawmakers along with the State’s constitutional officers and the Governor’s Inaugural address, which are…

By Rep. Alison Clarkson Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark — one: unusually quiet, orderly and historic but subdued, and the other: noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our…

Applications due March 31, 2021 USDA Rural Development (RD) is seeking applications for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP). Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis, with the next deadline being the close of business on March 31, 2021. State information on the program and application materials are available at rd.usda.gov. The RMAP program provides loans…

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced Jan. 8 that the Paycheck Protection Program will re-open the week of Jan. 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday,…

On Jan. 7, the Vermont State Police (VSP) received a report of personal, off duty, social media posts by Lucas Hall of the Shaftsbury barracks. The posts appear to support the criminal insurgency that occurred Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol and to advocate for such insurgency to continue. “God Bless America!!!!” Luke Hall, allegedly…

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, President Donald J. Trump addressed thousands of supporters, urging them to go to the U.S. Capitol in support of his false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election, and Whereas, the President’s supporters marched to the Capitol and violently stormed the building, attacking police officers, ransacking offices, terrorizing the…

On Jan. 8 the Vermont House of Representatives voted 130-16 in favor of a resolution to condemn the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The bill enjoyed tri-partisan support. According to a release from the Vermont Democratic Party, “130 Democratic, Republican, and Progressive House members voted in favor of the resolution in…

By Katy Savage Coaches and athletes are navigating a challenging season since Gov. Phil Scott gave winter sports the green light to start practicing Dec. 26. Scott didn’t announce when or if competitions could begin. Some sports are more affected than others. High-contact sports, like wrestling, can’t practice at all, while cheerleaders can’t practice vocal…

By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger About 50 Vermonters made the trip to Washington on a coach bus that left Vermont Tuesday night, Jan. 5. With a mixture of pride and defiance, the organizer who helped 51 people travel to Washington, D.C., for Wednesday’s planned demonstration at the Capitol building described a festive occasion where like-minded people shared…

Gov. Scott cautions Vermonters: 'Don't be played; don't be used as a pawn' By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger and Polly Mikula Vermont law enforcement officials are preparing for possible armed rallies at the State House. The FBI issued a warning Monday, Jan. 11, that demonstrations by gun-toting protesters are planned at state capitals across the country. ABC…

By Jack Lyons/VTDigger Soon after Vermont’s first wave of Covid-19 deaths subsided in May, another wave of death quickly began to climb: traffic collisions. Crashes at one point surpassed the death toll of the coronavirus, and killed 62 people in the state in 2020, up from 47 the year before. Vermont roads have had less traffic…

State officials urge all Vermonters who recently gathered with others or traveled to get tested By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott and State Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine encouraged Vermonters to go get a Covid-19 test, at the regular press conference Tuesday, Jan. 5. The governor had temporarily permitted households to gather with one trusted…

Hockey teams will not be traveling outside the state to play until at least the end of this month, state officials from the Northeast announced on Dec. 31. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont…